“There wasn’t a lot of talk about technology in President Trump’s first State of the Union speech Tuesday night, but he did take time to highlight Apple, citing its announcement earlier this month that it will invest $350 billion in the United States,” Hayley Tsukayama writes for The Washington Post. “Trump raised it as a crucial example of how the Republican tax cuts passed last year directly benefit the U.S. economy.”

“‘Since we passed tax cuts, roughly 3 million workers have already gotten tax cut bonuses — many of them thousands and thousands of dollars per worker — and it’s getting to be more every month, every week. Apple has just announced it plans to invest a total of $350 billion in America and hire another 20,000 workers,’ Trump said,” Tsukayama writes.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and U.S. President Donald Trump at tech summit in June 2017

“Apple announced a five-year investment plan — which includes a new corporate campus — shortly after the new law passed. But it has not detailed which investments are directly linked to the tax cuts, apart from the $38 billion tax it will pay to repatriate its overseas profits.”

“Apple has given indications that the tax changes inspired a portion of its U.S. spending and investment goals, but not necessarily all of it,” Tsukayama writes. “Apple chief executive Tim Cook said in an interview with ABC News earlier this month that, ‘there are large parts of this that are a result of the tax reform, and there’s large parts of this that we would have done in any situation.’ Cook also told CNBC’s Jim Cramer earlier this month that the tax code changes created a better environment for Apple to execute its plans.”

I promised that my policies would allow companies like Apple to bring massive amounts of money back to the United States. Great to see Apple follow through as a result of TAX CUTS. Huge win for American workers and the USA! https://t.co/OwXVUyLOb1

Citizens of the free and civilized world I think you can see below the results of a nation composed of sore losers and poor winners. I read that the executive order to keep the Guantanamotrumpo Resort on the Bay open has been signed, one of their pillars of betrayal of the human race.

Fortunately when they are fighting amongst themselves like this the rest of the world is safe. Not to mention their karma, which is turning out to be such a bitch.

Yes Tower Tone, I’m talking about the same base that Obummer failed to close, and the same base that was opened by the shrub. I guess it is needed by your nation, after all a bully nation needs a nice quiet spot where they can continue their betrayal of humanity.

I prefer to write a bit more about countries that are less brutal and more humanitarian that yours cause there are plenty more to choose from. For example, the top 10 of the Global Peace Index for 2017 are: Iceland, New Zealand, Portugal, Austria, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Canada, Switzerland with Ireland and Japan tied for 10th spot. The world is lucky to have countries that guide themselves peacefully.

Just because I love humanity doesn’t mean I hate your nation, but the actions of your nation speak volumes at to the hate and disdain you have for the rest of the world.

You are getting a bit too strident, Road Warrior. While the current administration and GOP-controlled Congress is generally disgusting, the opinions of most U.S. citizens differ substantially from the actions of the federal government. Gerrymandering and such have created a situation in which our state and federal representatives are not an accurate reflection of the will of the majority of the people. That will change over time. Do not paint the entire nation with your brush.

Nearly every nation has had periods in which it operated in a less than stellar manner. I prefer to believe that this period of intolerance and idiocy in the U.S. will be brief, and that it will ultimately provide us with an opportunity to clean out the filth that has been lurking in our society for decades. We have been slapped in the face with the undeniable knowledge that our society has not advanced/evolved as much as we liked to believe. Armed with that knowledge, the test of our country will be how we respond to the extremism, bigotry, and hate.

Road Warrior

Thursday, February 1, 2018 - 2:16 pm ·

I’m not painting the entire nation with my brush as I have met many fine individuals from Apple’s home nation, I’m just pointing out something about that government on the world stage.

I agree with you about nations having periods of time with less than stellar performance. That is why I am optimistic that one day Apple’s home country will once again embrace civilized behavior and rejoin the ranks of humane nations. Right now though that country has been looking for a weapons of mass destruction program for over a decade, liberating near genocidal numbers of innocent Iraqi civilians from their lives, torturing and withholding any justice that should be available to them. You really have to have a hate on to do something like that.

Nice post, I appreciate your sentiments.

GoeB

Thursday, February 1, 2018 - 4:31 pm ·

Oh, how nice.

A Libtard love fest with Road Warrior, King Mel, Predrag and TXuser. Wondering what took you so long … 😆

TowerTone

Thursday, February 1, 2018 - 11:17 pm ·

No Mel, most American opinions DON’T differ like you stated.

And the “gerrymandering” you mentioned was to overturn decades old lines drawn by Democrats when they were in power, drawn up to keep them that way and they STILL failed to keep the votes thus enabling Republicans to change the lines.

Like the Boy Blunder Obama said, elections have consequences, and his entire regime of corruption and intimidation will be reversed as a result, thank God!

@Clueless Road Warrior…I don’t know what country you live in, but I bet the only reason you are still FREE is because China, Russia, Iran, and other bad world actors, would most likely rape and pillage your country if America was not around. Little girls like you get murdered by evil. Why ….because they can. We are the only ones out there that keeps evil from speedily progressing over your bent wrist country. America is the one common denominator that has kept some of the world FREE. It certainly is not you flailing your bent wrist around spewing peace as if it is a world default mode. Europe would fall within a year if there was no America. In about 50 to 75 years you will be under sharia law. You have been Trojanized and you are too naive to see it. You are utterly clueless.

Well, TT, your hyperpartisan viewpoint once again fails to recognize the truth of the situation – Congress and the states would not accept the Guantanamo prisoners into the U.S., nor did they want them to be released. Thus, there was no possible solution from the situation created by Bush. The Republicans played a major role in stonewalling any efforts to shut down Guantanamo or even reduce the prisoner population. But, of course, you blame Obama.

By the way, what the hell has Trump done with Guantanamo after a full year in office?

Well, KM, your hyperpartisan viewpoint once again fails to recognize the TRUTH.

Obama campaigned to close Guantanamo. Like many of his promises such as keep your doctor and your health care will go down by thousands of dollars NEVER happened. What part of this do you NOT understand?

All you got is DENIAL or is it SELECTIVE amnesia and SHIFT THE BLAME to our hard working president?!?!?!

If by “hyper partisan” you mean between Republicans and Democrats then I’ll remind you it hasn’t been that long since I voted for a Democrat governor in Arkansas along with some other local politicians. They were good men who did what they believed was best for their constituents.

If however you mean between Conservatives and Liberals, then yes I have grown to despise the left in the last 15 years as they move further and further from what mainstream Democrats once were and as a result have lost a majority of their power on every level throughout America.

As far as Guantanamo, I have issues with its use under Bush, so your “‘point” is of no consequence to me.

Obama ran his mouth in the election about closing it without any regard for the realities of why it is used. Blame the evil Republicans all you want, makes me no difference.

You forgot to mention that Apple’s home nation does not respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, does not respect the sovereignty of other nations and does not have many years of peace in their history, actually you haven’t had peace for well over a decade.

I’d rather be mentally disturbed than be a citizen of a terrorist nation.

Typical practice of liberals that can’t FACE FACTS and get CAUGHT in an argument they can’t LIE their way out of.

So typical and a tired false meme.

USA! USA! USA! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Road Warrior

Thursday, February 1, 2018 - 4:41 pm ·

GoeB, what terrorist nations? You rattled a bunch of stuff that Apple’s home nation doesn’t do but you absolutely failed to mention any other country whatsoever.

I don’t deny that there are other true terrorist nations that merit being along side Apple’s home nation but as I’ve said I prefer in this instance to praise nations that are doing it right, and I rattle off nearly a dozen of them.

You on the other hands, haven’t mentioned any other nation.

By all means continue, it’s amusing.

GoeB

Thursday, February 1, 2018 - 5:10 pm ·

Well, at least I have one recognized character trait that I am amusing. I work at it real hard. Woohoo!

You on the other hand continue to deny REALITY and DEFLECT — fine.

Here is your homework for tonight:

1) Name “terrorist nations” that cut off prisoner heads while they are still alive.

2) Name “terrorist nations” that burn bodies in cages while they are still alive.

3) Name “terrorist nations” that line up hooded Christian captives on a beach and execute them in cold blood.

4) Name “terrorist nations” that stone women in public.

5) Name “terrorist nations” that execute gay citizens.

While I certainly KNOW the answers, by asking me you imply you are clueless. No surprise given your one nation HATE FIXATION.

Oh, and when you get around to answering the top five “terrorist nations” questions, I have more …🤔

Instead I’ve tipped my hat to those lovely nations that top the global peace index for 2017. I’ve made the civilized courtesy of naming them. You want to bad mouth other countries, go right ahead it’s the patriotic thing to do for your stars and skid marks hole country.

Your cowardly withdrawal from my five questions is NOT a surprise. Typical leftist that NEVER allows fair and balanced discussion to get in the way of unhinged single minded dogma. So, nice to read when called OUT on your 🐂💩 you melt like a snowflake. 💦

“Instead I’ve tipped my hat to those lovely nations that top the global peace index for 2017. I’ve made the civilized courtesy of naming them.

When you run away from the truth, guess you have to do something.

“You want to bad mouth other countries, go right ahead it’s the patriotic thing to do for your stars and skid marks hole country.”

YOU, are TELLING me, to bad mouth other countries?!?!? Coming from the number one consistent “bad mouth” USA SPECIALIST on MDN?!?!?

WOW! How rich. How indignant. How self righteous. How clueless. How dishonest. How PATHETIC …

Your cowardly withdrawal from my five questions is NOT a surprise. Typical leftist that can’t handle a difficult discussion or let it get in the way of unhinged single minded dogma. So, nice to read when called OUT on your simpleton 🐂💩 you melt like a snowflake. 💦

“Instead I’ve tipped my hat to those lovely nations that top the global peace index for 2017. I’ve made the civilized courtesy of naming them.

When you run away from the discussion, cannot articulate the TRUE “terrorist nations” on planet Earth — guess you need something to distract attention.

“You want to bad mouth other countries, go right ahead it’s the patriotic thing to do for your stars and skid marks hole country.”

YOU, are TELLING me, to bad mouth other countries?!?!? 😆

Coming from the number one “bad mouth” USA SPECIALIST on MDN!

WOW. How outrageous. How clueless. How dishonest. How SICK …

Road Warrior

Thursday, February 1, 2018 - 9:21 pm ·

Actually the cowardly withdrawal was to Tower Tone, he’s the one that really deserves the credit but kudos to you for riding on the coat tails and claiming it as yours as well.

It’s also challenging to have a fair and balanced discussion in the wave of insults but then again in your case it could be the other way.

For all your ad hominem attacks, for all your whining and smoke and mirrors you still fail to address the point I brought up:

“I read that the executive order to keep the Guantanamotrumpo Resort on the Bay open has been signed, one of their pillars of betrayal of the human race.”

That’s it. If I really hated your country I would not have Apple stock and I would nit pick on every other issue about your nation, but I don’t. I see this as a humanitarian issue, not a political one. I brought it up because it is an important issue to me and it was part of the reporting on the state of the union speech, the main topic.

Going off and naming other countries, sure you can look at other countries that are scum, and I think North Korea was mentioned in the state of union address and I’d have no issue pointing out that Apple’s home nation is a far better country overall. Now the country mentioned at the state of union address that was found to be better in some aspect from Apple’s home nation and as a result was an inspiration to Apple’s home nation was….

crickets.

To me, that does not seem balanced. Yes, North Korea doesn’t hold a candle to you. Got it. I think it’s really wild to find out that Portugal is in the top 10 list of most peaceful nations. How do they do it? I think I might just check that out.

Thanks GoeB

GoeB

Thursday, February 1, 2018 - 11:17 pm ·

I don’t recall insults or ad hominem attacks.

You declined to answer the five worst “terrorist nation” question because it exposes your big lie, fine.

Follows you ARE more worried about “bad mouthing” BAD NATIONS.

Follows you are NOT worried about “bad mouthing” GOOD NATIONS like the USA.

I don’t get that, nuff said …

Road Warrior

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 1:49 am ·

Let’s check those great highlights.

“A Libtard love fest with Road Warrior”

“Road Warrior is mentally disturbed and harbors misplaced aggression and unbridled HATE for greatest free and liberating force the world has ever seen …”

“Coming from the number one “bad mouth” USA SPECIALIST on MDN!”

“I don’t recall insults or ad hominem attacks.”

GoeB

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 8:56 am ·

I always thought factual descriptions carried no animosity. It is what it is …

Road Warrior

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 9:08 am ·

Calling someone mentally deranged without proof is not a fact, it’s an opinion and thus it is an attack.

I’m certainly not a libtard and certainly not a specialist in the field you described.

You are just rattling one insult after another and claiming them as fact.

Even if they were all true, it’s still a lot better than being a citizen of a terrorist nation.

GoeB

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 1:56 pm ·

“Calling someone being a citizen of a terrorist nation without proof is not a fact, it’s an opinion and thus it is an attack.” … 🤔

Road Warrior

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 2:39 pm ·

Oh so you totally and conveniently fail to produce facts for your attack on on me. I’m so not surprise.

Meanwhile in a balanced and civilized fashion I’ll back up that terrorist nation fact because, it carries no animosity. It is what it is.

Feel free to attack the reference, there is more than ample evidence out there. Feel free to attempt to distract and meanwhile your silence confirms the fact that you attacked me as you offer not a bit of proof that I am mentally disabled.

GoeB

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 2:51 pm ·

I don’t NEED your permission for anything.

Scholars (mainly liberal) and Wikipedia (banned by U.S. Media years ago as a source) credible?!?

I’m in stitches laughing … 😆

Road Warrior

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 3:05 pm ·

As predicted you don’t have what it takes to accept a reference and you don’t have what it takes to present facts, to substantiate your empty claim about my mental health.

Since you don’t like the reference well look up a few more on google until you find something you like but the fact is that your nation is a terrorist nation. terrorist torture people as part of their repertoire. Besides, I’m not calling you a terrorist, I’m calling you a citizen of a terrorist nation. No personal insult there but your claim about my mental health is.

GoeB

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 4:11 pm ·

Your description of what I’m capable of and not capable of is a ruse and false. Simply, I don’t fall for sophomoric tactics and will answer on my own terms, if at all …

Road Warrior

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 4:35 pm ·

You’ve made a personal attack, you fail to recognize it, you fail to substantiate it and acknowledge it. You cannot bring up any valid reference to my mental state because it is what it is, an unsubstantiated personal attack that you tried to pass off as a fact. Your continued attempts at distraction and failure to take responsibility for what you did comes as no surprise to me, it is indicative of your character.

Do what you want, it’s your free will.

GoeB

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 4:38 pm ·

Only a Libtard registers such self righteous behavior when ignored.

Total, yawn ..,

Road Warrior

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 4:44 pm ·

There you go, more insults no substance on the topic at hand. Classic.

GoeB

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 5:00 pm ·

Your obsession with my posts and disrespect for my answers, albeit not the answers you are looking for, yes, I now know I was right. You really are mentally deranged and best wishes you get help soon …

Road Warrior

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 5:06 pm ·

More insults and attempts at harassment, not to mention out of left field desperation boo hoo hoo disrespect for your answers.

Again with the personal attack. You have absolutely no proof to substantiate what you are saying and you are sustaining your personal attack.

You may wish to consider ceasing your attempts at harassing me, think about what you are doing it’s getting really close to libel: a published false statement that is damaging to a person’s reputation; a written defamation.

GoeB

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 5:32 pm ·

Harassing you? That’s rich!

You can’t let a few words in one sentence go, OPINION I AM ENTITLED TO MIND YOU, and unable to laugh it off or let it go.

Pity …

GoeB

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 5:46 pm ·

I asked you in an earlier post to answer the following questions. Hoping for a reply:

1) Name “terrorist nations” that cut off prisoner heads while they are still alive.
2) Name “terrorist nations” that burn bodies in cages while they are still alive.
3) Name “terrorist nations” that line up hooded Christian captives on a beach and execute them in cold blood.
4) Name “terrorist nations” that stone women in public.
5) Name “terrorist nations” that execute gay citizens.

Road Warrior

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 5:45 pm ·

Attempted harassment, you don’t have what it takes to harass me.
Opinions are fine, but you put try to pass them off as facts.
I’m certainly willing to let it go. You may or may not have noticed that I have not replied to any “initial” post you make because frankly I think that the fine MDN community deserves fine discussion with a minimum of insults. That’s my letting go. Now do you have what it takes to leave me alone? Are you ready to let it go? If so, stop posting to me. If not, well I’m sure you have a plethora of insults that you can spew my way so keep it up while you still can.

GoeB

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 5:50 pm ·

When you answer my five questions, only then can we talk about letting it go …

Road Warrior

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 6:05 pm ·

And you call me obsessed, all right so noted.

“When you answer my five questions, only then can we talk about letting it go …”

I don’t believe you, because…

“Oh, and when you get around to answering the top five “terrorist nations” questions, I have more” I won’t be coerced, nor bullied to answer your 5 questions especially in the condescending way you asked them.

At least I’ve tried to resolve this peacefully and illustrated that I’m willing to let it go.

GoeB

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 6:23 pm ·

Since you are the number one MDN poster constantly bad mouthing, insulting, denigrating, hating, the good citizens of the USA while calling some of us “citizens of a terrorist nation” I offer the following questions for the THIRD TIME.

1) Name “terrorist nations” that cut off prisoner heads while they are still alive.
2) Name “terrorist nations” that burn bodies in cages while they are still alive.
3) Name “terrorist nations” that line up hooded Christian captives on a beach and execute them in cold blood.
4) Name “terrorist nations” that stone women in public.
5) Name “terrorist nations” that execute gay citizens.

If you are intellectually incapable of answering the questions above, well, I understand that.

Great State of union speech… balanced…wise and packed with invitations to unity !

Cheers to Trump

And Viva la Trump.

PS (its nauseatingly obnoxious how the L and The Ds are twisting the night into a negative..and into a prejudiced speech. It is them, the haters, who are prejudiced and intolerant and ignorant….it is them that twist and turn everything inyo prejudice and forve devision.. then complain about prejudice and division. It is as twisted as it can be….it takes a prejudice mind to act that way.
They are dogmatic and will stop at nothing to protect their misguided dogma..they will hurt anyone, anyplace… to the Ds democracy is only valid if they win. Liberal/democrat Are the biggest misnomers there are.

Put your effort in Unity.. not Hate….. wisen up. You are not the only ones on this planet.
This man wants to do a lot of good for All US citizens… stop throwing rocks at him or even yourselfs becouse of your misguided radical/fanatical approach to polotics and dogma.

Try to Unite… and respect !

Ahh those expressions on Pelosys face…the demeanor .. .. …has hate and ignorace written all over it. …

One of the other fact-checking services noted 18 erroneous assertions of fact during the State of the Union Address that had previously been debunked. When you repeat something that is untrue after you have been corrected, it is no longer a mistake. It becomes a lie.

There are certainly liberal and conservative dogmas and opinions. Everyone is entitled to hold and express any of them. Our country—and, indeed, Western civilization—is grounded on the free exchange of opinions.

However, there are no liberal or conservative facts. Almost by definition, facts exist objectively. They can be demonstrated with factual evidence. They cannot be proven by simply arguing that Walter Cronkite, the Pope, or the President said it, so it must be true.

The attempt to ban the phrases “science-based” and “evidence-based” at the CDC are symptomatic of a very deep problem. Americans seem unable to distinguish between policies that are good because they can be factually proved to have good outcomes and policies that satisfy liberal or conservative dogmatic priorities.

We can see that on this site with people who make obviously untrue statements (“When Bill Cosby drugged women to have sex with them, it wasn’t illegal”) and then stick to them in spite of the demonstrated facts.

This isn’t a partisan issue. Tea Party Republican Senator Jeff Flake recently began a speech in Congress, “We are all entitled to our own opinions, but not to our own facts—Patrick Daniel Moynihan” Orwell’s 1984 and Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 are essentially about governments that used their power to replace facts with opinions, and to ruthlessly suppress anyone who sought the truth.

A society that can’t tell the difference between fact and opinion is sick, sick, sick.

Politics and polls is more about perception, not reality, and you know it and practice it.

Sorry the Trumpster bested the best of the Democrat spin machine in the media, Hollywood and American psyche.

One of the greatest State of the Union speeches of all time, so sorry you and DG may not agree.

Llooking forward to your superlative list, Mr. self described straight white male fiscal conservative, of ALL the high points of President Trump’s remarkable speech that Republicans and many Democrats cheered … 🤔

The GREATER GOOD for the Republican Party would be to cut all of its ties to Mr. Trump before he drags them down with him. Most Americans prefer the truth to falsehood.

Just this morning, the President tweeted that his State of the Union address was watched by 45.6 million people, “the highest number in history.” The same rating service showed that 48 million watched the first SOTU of the previous President. Facts do matter. If someone lies about something this trivial, why would anybody believe him about something more important?

Other lies in the SOTU directly hurt Republicans. Our country has an increasing number of voters who are not White Anglo-Saxon Protestant males, and those other voters notice when the President tells porkies to blame immigrants for crime in America. In fact, of course, the crime rate has fallen by 45% in recent years while the percentage of immigrants doubled. Incarceration rates for legal immigrants are only a little over half the rate for people born in the USA, and not much higher for undocumented immigrants (apart from immigration offenses, of course). We can certainly debate immigration policy, but let’s base the discussion on facts, not lies.

If the titular leader of the Republican Party lies about people of color, they will not vote for Republicans, and the party will fade as the country browns. If he promises the moon to Middle America and then gives it to Wall Street, the voters who believed Republicans once will not be fooled again. Mr. Trump is a former Democrat who represents a poison pill for our party.

GoeB

Thursday, February 1, 2018 - 3:44 pm ·

You respond to YOURSELF?

“Mr. Trump is a former Democrat who represents a poison pill for our party.”

Look thick skull, I have posted over a dozen times HERE over the years I AM A LIFELONG REGISTERED INDEPENDENT! Got it???

And I have called you out before pretending to be a good Republican. So let me refresh your memory and say it again.

You are a Democrat PLANT falsely claiming you are a Republican. Easy to do, just REGISTER A LIE.

You have not offered ONE WORD OF PRAISE for the president. You only respond and agree with Democrats denigrating the president. Your posts 100% denigrate the president.

I think it’s high time you stop pretending, admit your DECEIT and ask for FORGIVENESS … 🇺🇸

TxUser

Thursday, February 1, 2018 - 5:08 pm ·

GeoB,

“Our party” as in me and the other Republicans. I am quite pleased that you do not belong to our number. Since you don’t, why do you feel qualified to state what a Republican must believe? We don’t all subscribe to The Daily Stormer, as you seem to imply.

On most issues related to Trump, I agree with Jeff Flake, who is about as white, male, Republican, and conservative as it gets in this country.

I will gladly praise the President when he finally does something worth praising. Lying and attacking our constitutional form of government do not qualify.

GoeB

Thursday, February 1, 2018 - 5:51 pm ·

“why do you feel qualified to state what a Republican must believe?”

Aaahhh, that’s the deflection and obfuscation TXuser is famous for and you did not disappoint.

Show me ONE SENTENCE where I stated “what a Republican must believe.”

Commentary is protected by the First Amendment and not exclusive to either party.

“I will gladly praise the President when he finally does something worth praising.”

YOU LIE. Praise points since the most remarkable underdog win in presidential history now number in the hundreds. You are just another liberal liar in sheep’s clothing, fine.

“Lying and attacking our constitutional form of government do not qualify.”

How precise the accusation. How imprecise the answer. What, NO examples with attribution to prove your point?

Politifact is not perfect, but it is not partisan, either. The fact that both left and right wing politicians complain about them shows they are not tools for either side.

Conservatives have been bitching about the “liberal” media longer than I have been alive and I grew up with the Vietnam War, moon landings and Watergate on the TV- it’s been awhile.

The media is corporate- not liberal. Are they liberal on social policy- somewhat. Are they liberal on economics and foreign affairs- hardly.

NBC for most of it’s history belonged to RCA, then General Electric and later Comcast. These are all corporations headed by men who were almost all Republicans.

CBS was started by Bill Paley from the Tobacco industry. Later part of Westinghouse and still later National Amusements controlled by Sumner Redstone & Family.

ABC started out as part of NBC (Blue Network) , then Ed Noble of Lifesavers Candy fame bought it, then Paramount Theaters then Capital Cities, then Disney.

CNN started as part of Turner Broadcasting when Ted was considered a Conservative who wanted to take control of CBS to become Dan rather’s boss. Later it became part of Time Warner and is soon to be part of AT&T.

The Washington Post is owned by Jeff Bezos, the richest man in America at about $100 Billion. Hardly a raging lefty.

The New York Times is owned publicly but controlled by a family that has run it for over a hundred years and is anything but liberal- despite the image. Read the editorials concerning FDR, Martin Luther King and such if you think I am misrepresenting things. They are corporate- not liberal.

The real Liberal Media is stuff like The Young Turks, Democracy Now, The Nation Magazine, The Thom Hartmann Show, AlterNet, Think Progress, Crooks & Liars, The Real News and others.

Well my friend, that is your most clueless post in my memory, very sorry.

Who owns the media and who runs the newsrooms are as different as night and day. Easy to read you don’t know the difference. Guilt by corporate association only works for fools.

If you have not read reader surveys and polls dating back to the late 1980s when the politically correct poison from Libtard college think tanks infected and totally changed the media reporting landscape forever, well, then you missed a lot.

Now pay attention. The mainstream media is TOTALLY, over 90% LIBERAL BIASED, for over two decades.

There are hundreds of polls and reader surveys in that time frame where anywhere from 80-90 percent plus of respondents believe the media is DEFINITELY liberal biased!

I think the main problem with your perception of that media bias is that it is a perception, because it doesn’t align with what you want to hear. Public polls are NOT objective measures of political bias. They simply show what certain part of the audience thinks about something. And your number is significantly off; unless the surveys and polls you are referring to are from conservative media outlets, where audience is self-selecting (and biased), the actual perception of media in the country is that the mainstream media is mostly neutral (which by definition it would be, as it is reporting facts).

It is impossibly difficult to discuss these matters in America these days. Commercial media outlets have hijacked the news space, and legitimate news outlets are now put on the same level as these entertainment channels that have no journalistic integrity (nor do they ever sought it). American people want the news to be about what they like to hear. When a presidential candidate tells them that he will bring back coal industry, and they will be “working their ass off”, they believe him, because they simply want to hear that. It doesn’t matter if that is a lie; they are OK with it, because they prefer that than the truth they won’t like.

GoeB

Thursday, February 1, 2018 - 2:46 pm ·

“I think the main problem with your perception of that media bias is that it is a perception, because it doesn’t align with what you want to hear.”

Obvious you have never worked in a newsroom and totally CLUELESS. The problem with your post is SIMPLE. The media for DECADES IS liberal biased!

Forget polls, professional industry surveys have ALSO shown since the early 1990s that over 88% of media workers are registered Democrats.

Once upon a time the industry focused on conferences, workshops, industry periodicals and every means to combat the deserved reputation.

But now in the age of the Don, they no longer bring it up, fret at conferences, wring their hands and totally abandoned reforms. Not only that, the LIBERAL BIAS has only ACCELERATED over the last two years.

In other words, they no longer care and don’t hide their LIBERAL BIAS anymore.

All media is corporate, but that doesn’t mean they don’t tow a specific line. But to the R/L dialogue and the thoughts above.
Would the NYT. WP, CNN, NBC, Bezos et al, speak approvingly of the recent tax plan, or any/many of recent cuts in the past? What would the tenor of their reports be on the attempts to overturn O’Care the dumping of the mandate? How would they report on “the Wall”, or elimination chain migration, and including “merit” to justify citizenship? How would they report on “single-payer” vs private provider health care? What about TX recent battle to defund many abortion providers? I’ll bet a few bucks all mentioned above would fall on what I consider the L side of the matter. These are concrete & varied (econ & social) R/L issues and they’re current….not FDR/MLK era thinking. Your last para as to what is truly liberal points as much to where you are on the R/L spectrum…especially if you don’t see any in the upper list as Liberal, or at least anti-conservatism. My mind asks, if they’re anti-conservatism, isn’t that most likely liberal? Btw, Turner a conservative? That’s like calling Reagan a Dem (once upon a time, maybe). Besos not Liberal? Please.

I am not a Democrat and not a Republican. There are more than two thought processes in the universe. Both Parties used to be somewhat reasonable, but both are now corrupt to the core.

I will gladly concede that on social issues like abortion rights, LGBTQ rights, immigration and such they tend more to the center left. I would also argue that they are center right on most other things like the good corporate bots that they are.

Notice how you never hear much about Net Neutrality on MSNBC/CNBC or NBC as they are owned by Comcast? Notice how no MSM posted anything about the public comment period on Obama’s TPP trade scheme until after the window closed? Yes, the owners call the shots and set the boundaries.

Keith Olbermann was dumped by MSNBC despite being the highest rated show on the channel when he bit the hand that fed him once too many times. They did not like his politics, but they did like the audience and the revenues it generated. When they decided they could get along without him they fired him.

What’s new? That’s not the story and you know it, or should be willing to admit it. Did Drumpf (juvi-you use) collude? Did the fallacious rumor of collusion start from reputable info, or from erroneous tale (yellow showers) spun from a political motive? That’s a real question, if not THE question. How exactly has Don been “castrating” the agencies mentioned…besides being a part of Comey’s departure…which was reasonable imo. Please put up some real content instead of swinging broadly, but not hitting anything.

To repeat: There are no liberal facts or conservative facts. Just facts. It doesn’t matter how the story of Trump Campaign collusion with Russia started. What matters is whether the story is true.

It does not matter who paid for a piece of research. What matters is whether the research is factually accurate.

Example of castration: Justice Department submits a 60-page classified affidavit to obtain a warrant. A federal judge read the whole thing and found probable cause to issue the warrant. A couple of Republican staffers get clearance to read the 60 pages and put the “good bits” that support their partisan narrative into a 4-page memo.

The memo makes the request and issuance of the warrant look unreasonable, and blackens the investigators and prosecutors as unprofessional (at best). Trump appointees at the FBI and Justice Department agree that the memo is so partial as to be objectively misleading. Democrats who have seen both the original affidavit and the memo wrote a counter-memo that supplies the missing context.

Then Trump and his supporters in Congress decide to release the memo and suppress the counter-memo, knowing that nobody can show that the memo is false without revealing classified information and risking a jail term.

Given that precedent, what do you think might happen if the Democrats ever get a majority in the House? Answer: another step down the path of preferring partisan opinion to verifiable facts.

I agree with you 100% in regards to outcome. If Trump has colluded or obstructed justice or was in bed illegally with the oligarchs of Russia…he needs to be nuked.

On the other hand if he is found to have done nothing illegal and all of this was largely created by a fantasy dossier, using government resources illegally and the US Law enforcement system was illegally leveraged, the people involved need to be, named, penalized and treated just like swamp creatures extraordinaire.

By the way, it may not matter who paid for the dossier IF they followed the legal protocol expected when securing a FISA warrant…and there are reasonable questions that this may not be the case.

TxUser

Thursday, February 1, 2018 - 8:05 pm ·

The investigation of Carter Page (which is apparently what the warrant and the Nunes Memo are all about) began long before the Steele Dossier even existed. His extensive dealings with Russia over the course of decades are undisputed. The legality of those dealings is disputed.

None of the information in the Dossier was based on a FISA warrant, and those who have read the whole affidavit insist that the warrant was not based on the Dossier. The application may have mentioned the Dossier as an additional source for evidence obtained from other sources, but so what?

Anybody can read the Dossier. It has been online for over a year. Some of the allegations in it are unproven, others are most likely false, but quite a lot of it has been confirmed by independent sources. There was no reason not to mention those confirmed facts in the warrant application. Just because Mr. Steele was paid to do the research does not mean that he is not a credible person.

People are acting like the FBI or Justice Department ordered surveillance on Carter Page. No, they applied for a warrant. The application was reviewed by a judge who was initially appointed to the Federal Bench by the President (in about 80% of cases a Republican President) and confirmed by the Senate, and who was then placed on the FISA Court by the Chief Justice of the United States. (Note: Every Chief Justice since 1954 has been appointed by a Republican President.)

The judge who reviewed the application determined that it set out probable cause as defined by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (which was drafted by a Republican President and adopted by a Republican Congress).

We have separation of powers in the United States. A 1-vote partisan majority of a single committee of a single House of Congress does not have the authority to undermine judicial decisions made in accordance with a law that the Republican majority in both houses voted to renew without amendment just three weeks ago. I would put it stronger: for such a committee to assert such authority is an unconstitutional usurpation of power.

GoeB

Thursday, February 1, 2018 - 10:42 pm ·

“The investigation of Carter Page (which is apparently what the warrant and the Nunes Memo are all about) began long before the Steele Dossier even existed. His extensive dealings with Russia over the course of decades are undisputed. The legality of those dealings is disputed.”

Apparently? Page for some strange reason is now of major interest to you less than a day before the declassified FISA abuse memo is released. That speaks volumes as it is not Germaine to this post.

But as a conservative Republican NO MENTION of the uranium deal with Russia and Obama cabinet members? Noted.

“None of the information in the Dossier was based on a FISA warrant, and those who have read the whole affidavit insist that the warrant was not based on the Dossier.”

And you know HOW and WHO read it, exactly? Unless I’m wrong, I thought the FISA warrant was granted and based on the disputed Dossier.

“Some of the allegations in it are unproven, others are most likely false”

Admitting “allegations” are “unproven” and “likely false” you are making my case, thanks.

“Just because Mr. Steele was paid to do the research does not mean that he is not a credible person.”

Just because Mr. Steele was paid by the DNC and the Hillary Clinton campaign during her election does not mean he IS a credible person. There, I fixed it for you.

“The judge who reviewed the application determined that it set out probable cause as defined by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act”

The judge ruled on the credibility of the Dossier which you admitted is faulty and in dispute. Possibly, the judge was Dem Duped.

“We have separation of powers in the United States. A 1-vote partisan majority of a single committee of a single House of Congress does not have the authority to undermine judicial decisions made in accordance with a law … ”

That 1-vote partisan majority is your Republican Party and funny, you don’t sound proud or defending your team. It almost sounds like you are undermining your own team. No, you ARE undermining your team and sober terms do not mask your stealth mission.

Bottom line: Many credible pundits have opined without the corrupt and disputed Steele Dossier paid for by the Democrat Party there would be no Russian collusion investigation and no special counsel.

You’re out front on this in less than 24 hours before the memo is released, totally off topic on Apple tax news, interesting in itself as to your preemptive motives. But I think I got your number.

I’m guessing we will hear a lot from you on this issue from Friday forward …

TxUser

Thursday, February 1, 2018 - 11:17 pm ·

Not off topic. I was answering the following question:

“How exactly has Don been “castrating” the agencies mentioned? … Please put up some real content instead of swinging broadly.”

In the very next post, I gave specifics from a current case of how Rep. Nunes, who is clearly acting at the behest of the White House, has sought to castrate the FBI and Justice Department. The release of the memo can have no other purpose than to undermine the confidence of American citizens in their public servants.

It reflects the approach of a schoolyard bully, in that it simultaneously attacks someone and denies them any means to defend themselves. That is not just generally unfair, but an offense to any notion of due process.

The memo may say>/b> that the judge’s decision was based significantly on the Steele Dossier, but most others who have read the affidavit disagree. They can’t list all the other credible evidence to support the warrant without breaking the law by revealing confidential government sources and methods.

Neither Mr. Nunes nor Mr. Trump intend to give the investigators, prosecutors, or judge any opportunity to defend themselves. So much for the Sixth Amendment!

When a fact checker points to other “news” outlets reporting the same disinformation (the Left’s idea of peer revue…) that all point in a circle-jerk of half truths and dreams, the closest it comes to math is a Mobius Circle where you throw some suspicions into a vat of news cycles that later are reported as investigations that cricle around and next thing you have is a Russian probe designed to lead the public AWAY from the real truth of Democrat collusion.

Fact checkers are nothing more than people like Predrag who Google stories to support their viewpoint while knowing nothing of the actual circumstances or history themselves.

Nothing against Predrag here its just typical of what he does so I used him as an example.

Have a good weekend, Dave. I finally retired from Arkansas and moved on back to Texas.

Wabbaseka much??

GoeB

Friday, February 2, 2018 - 8:02 pm ·

“When a fact checker points to other “news” outlets reporting the same disinformation (the Left’s idea of peer revue…)”

Great State of union speech… balanced…wise and packed with invitations to unity !

Cheers to Trump

And Viva la Trump.

PS (its nauseatingly obnoxious how the L and The Ds are twisting the night into a negative..and into a prejudiced speech. It is them, the haters, who are prejudiced and intolerant and ignorant….it is them that twist and turn everything into prejudice and force devision.. and then then they complain about prejudice and division. It is as twisted as it can be….it takes a prejudice mind to act that way.
They are dogmatic and will stop at nothing to protect their misguided dogma..they will hurt anyone, anyplace… to the Ds democracy is only valid if they win. Liberal/democrat Are the biggest misnomers there are.

Put your effort in Unity.. not Hate….. wisen up. You are not the only ones on this planet.
This man wants to do a lot of good for All US citizens… stop throwing rocks at him or even yourselfs becouse of your misguided radical/fanatical approach to polotics and dogma.

Try to Unite… and respect !

Ahh those expressions on Pelosys face…the demeanor .. .. …has hate and ignorace written all over it. …

I will never ever use the words “President” and “Trump” in the same sentence. Not My president. I wouldn’t/couldn’t watch a single second of the Narcissist-In-Chief’s Lie-Fest, and have even avoided any commentary, analysis, synopses pro, con, or indifferent. I unplugged yesterday, and shall continue to avoid all and any articles related to this gateway to Hell on Earth. He is against everything I have always and ever will believe in. I feel no shame in admitting that I truly hate him and his enablers and treasonous, heartless supporters with a passion. Not politics to me- Right vs. Wrong. Truth vs. Lies. Good vs. Bad. Regarding this democracy- Life vs. Death.

“I will never ever use the words “President” and “Trump” in the same sentence. Not My president.”

Ok fine, you obviously don’t live in the U.S.

“I wouldn’t/couldn’t watch a single second of the Narcissist-In-Chief’s Lie-Fest, and have even avoided any commentary, analysis, synopses pro, con, or indifferent.”

Well, if you ignored the speech by not watching it or viewing zero analysis left or right — then you know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Par for the course on the Left. Know nothing and like Big Brother only speak DOGMA.

“I unplugged yesterday, and shall continue to avoid all and any articles related to this gateway to Hell on Earth.”

Oh, you’re “unplugged” alright.

“He is against everything I have always and ever will believe in. I feel no shame in admitting that I truly hate him and his enablers and treasonous, heartless supporters with a passion.

So now your HATE is EXTENDED to 63 million President Trump voters in 2016 and the thousands or millions more that likely will change party after last night from one of the best State of the Union speeches of all time.

The second truth is even BETTER. The world watching how hateful, dishonest, clueless, spiteful, petty, out-of-touch — the Democratic Party has become. They totally LOST ALL CREDIBILITY last night (sycophants aside). And they have NO clue the damage they have brought upon themselves.

“Right vs. Wrong. Truth vs. Lies. Good vs. Bad.”

You would NOT know “Right,” “Truth” or “Good” if it hit you squarely between the eyes. Sorry to say you are one ignorant person.

You know, I am pretty sure God doesn’t like Orange-head. God has respect for women, unity, people of all color, the poor and sick. Qualities that laughingstock (whom all the world dislikes but I know you guys don’t read anything international) does not have.
Sad.

Who knew this rich, white, according to himself, well educated, self called, smart guy, has no idea how a country that prides itself on governance by rule of law, knows how it works. Oops of course he does that’s why he is trying to the truth from coming out.
Somebody is going to jail, that must happen and The VP will not be able to keep that traitor trump out of jail, no matter what he promised trump = lier.
What makes Americans Americans. In trump world nothing. Suckers believe that you have not collective needs, forget the idea of the separation of church and state.

As long as Tim Cook is the face of Apple it doesn’t matter. Tim Cook’s flagrant mismanagement is a slur on the history of Apple and the legacy of Steve Jobs. I have a bottle of champagne ready when I read the news of Cook’s resignation or firing.